Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Breast Cancer Cell Subpopulation Cooperation can Aid Tumor Growth: Study

by Bidita Debnath on April 8, 2014 at 11:43 PM
 Breast Cancer Cell Subpopulation Cooperation can Aid Tumor Growth: Study

Penn State College of Medicine researchers claims that subpopulations of breast cancer cells sometimes cooperate to aid tumor growth.

The researchers believe that understanding the relationship between cancer subpopulations could lead to new targets for cancer treatment. Cancers contain genetically different subpopulations of cells, called subclones.

Advertisement

Researchers have long known that these mutant subclones aggressively compete with one another to become the dominant tumor cell population. However, in some cases it seems that no single subclone can achieve dominance on its own.

"In breast cancer, there is remarkable genetic diversity within each cancer, and sometimes that diversity appears remarkably stable," said Ed Gunther, associate professor of medicine.
Advertisement

"No single subclone seems to be capable of gaining the upper hand, leading us to wonder whether subclones might be working together in some instances. Cooperation between subclones could provide a stabilizing force that preserves tumor cell diversity." The researchers studied mammary tumors in mice caused by the overproduction of a protein called Wnt1, which is secreted by tumor cells and is needed to advance tumor growth.

They report their results in the current issue of Nature.The mammary tumors frequently contained two distinct subclones - one produced Wnt1 while the other did not. The researchers observed a co-dependency of the two subpopulations. Instead of competing, the two relied on each other to expand both populations.The subpopulation that failed to produce Wnt contributed to tumor growth with a mutation in a gene called HRas, which regulates cell division. The subpopulation that produced Wnt1 did not have this HRas mutation. "One cell type signals to the other," Gunther said.

"When one cell type produced Wnt1, which we know the tumor depends on, the other type sensed it."When the researchers prevented the signaling between cells, the cancer growth stopped. However, the longer the messaging between the cells stops, the greater the chance that the cells will adapt."When we blocked the signaling, the cells got around it," Gunther said.

"Either the cells evolved to find a way to communicate with each other again, or they evolved to not need the cooperation any longer."Research could lead to effective ways to block communication between the cells to prevent the cooperation, and slow cancer growth. In addition, understanding the genetic differences between the subpopulations could lead to novel treatment strategies aimed at eliminating tumor cell communities.

Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Research News

AI Shows Promise in Identifying ADHD
The AI method shows promise in identifying imaging biomarkers for diagnosing ADHD.
Life Expectancy Gap for Autistic Individuals Revealed
Diagnosed autistic individuals showed increased premature mortality in the UK, highlighting urgent needs to address associated inequalities.
Exploring How Hearing Impairment Shapes Dementia Risk
Study reveals a correlation between hearing impairment and distinct brain region variances, contributing to dementia.
Coffee and its Role in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Financial impact of caring for individuals with neurodegenerative disorders reaches hundreds of billions annually in the United States.
Healthcare Industry Struggles With Tech Skills Shortage
Experts emphasize that addressing the skills gap demands immediate attention and innovative solutions, including education, re-training, and significant time investment.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Breast Cancer Cell Subpopulation Cooperation can Aid Tumor Growth: Study Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests